Comics Zero In On Aids

October 27, 1992

Since more teenagers are getting AIDS than any other age group in America right now, one company is targeting its warning where it counts: in comic books.

DC Comics will run single-page public service ads about AIDS in its superhero comics, starting in December. Stories include Batman`s sidekick Robin warning teens to ``get the facts``; the human torch telling kids that jokes about AIDS are never funny; and the Green Lantern telling an angry mob that ``prejudice is only going to delay finding a cure.``

FOR THE RECORD - Additional material published Nov. 3, 1992:Corrections and clarifications.An article in the Oct. 27 KidNews section was wrong in stating that``more teenagers are getting AIDS than any other age group in America right now.`` New teenage cases reported in 1991, the last full year for which national information is available, totaled 105, which is well below many other groups. That total was 33 fewer than were reported the previous year. The Tribune regrets the error.

One superhero, Booster, even gets criticized for sleeping around. In the end, Booster notes: ``Maybe we should be thinking about more than fun right now.``